She pressed the blaster painfully into his skin. “What if I shoot you right now, drag your body to one of the unused rooms, meet Max and Yoshi in the docking bay and take my chances by myself?”
Well, when she put it that way… “Point taken.” He could easily overpower her and take his blaster away, but there was something so sexy about her ruthless account of how she would kill him. This Max person wasn’t an obstacle anyway. If he wanted, he could win her over and steal her heart away from Max. Whoever he was. Or kill him. Whichever came first. If he wanted to.
They finally entered the docking bay. They were lucky that the room was almost empty. If he’d docked in the main docking station, there would be customers coming and going constantly, but since he had docked in the station reserved for important guests, they didn’t run into that problem.
She scanned the room with a worried look on her face. “Where are they?” she whispered under her breath.
He looked around as well. There were only three workers tending to some of the transporters, filling them with fuel and restocking food supplies. But he didn’t see any sign of Yoshi or the other person she was meeting here.
After a few minutes, the workers pushed an empty cart out of the room. The bay instantly became silent.
Two small human children popped out from behind a transporter and scurried their way. Ally exhaled, her fingers biting into his arm.
She motioned for them. “Hurry.”
Two children? He looked from them to her.
Reaching her, they wrapped their arms around her waist.
Max was another human child. After everything Ally had been through, she still had the compassion to think of others. Escaping would’ve been easier without the children, but she chose to risk taking them. No matter how hard she tried to seem, there was a caring female not too deep underneath.
“You.” She leveled the blaster at him. “Open the door or I’ll kill you.”
But he didn’t want to test how soft she actually was with a blaster aimed at his stomach.
“Relax,” he said. “I can’t drive the transporter dead.”
“Hold there,” a deep voice said from across the room.
Ally froze. He could feel the nervousness pouring from her body.
He turned in the direction from which the voice had come. Standing there was a Quold guard. Ally took a deep breath as the guard started toward them. The children moved behind her, hiding. Both whimpered.
“Give me the blaster,” he whispered. They were too close to get caught now. He’d dispose of the guard without ruining their plan.
“No, I got this,” she growled.
He flexed and relaxed his fists. He didn’t really need his blaster to incapacitate the guard. It would have made it easier, but he’d grown up training with the renowned Drazlan Royal Guards—he could take down this guard with his bare hands. They could get off the planet and hopefully a safe distance away before anyone found his body. Or they could use Ally’s idea and stuff him in one of the rooms.
“Let me handle this,” he whispered.
As the guard came closer, Kiehle could feel Ally shaking next to him.
“I knew you were trying to escape when I saw you in the halls,” the guard said. His eyes gleamed as he laughed. “Won’t Alharad be surprised to find out you’ve gone back on your deal? He’ll take both of his pets back. I’ll bet—”
“Sagnior?” Ally said. “Shut up and die already.” She pointed the blaster at his face and squeezed the trigger.
His face erupted, sending blood, skull fragments and brain matter everywhere, including on Kiehle. The children squealed in disgust.
I definitely wasn’t expecting that. Kiehle picked a piece of brain off his shoulder and flicked it to the floor. “Well, I guess we should be going now,” he said calmly.
She stared down at the body, the blaster aimed at the guard. Her eyes were wild with fury. Her hand shook uncontrollably. “I hated him,” she whispered.
“I could tell.”
“He—”
He pressed down on her hand, pointing the weapon to the floor. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.”
She lifted her gaze. She’d been abused. She’d been used. She was a killer. And she was vulnerable. Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped away a trail of Sagnior’s blood that dripped down her cheek. She allowed him to start the task, but quickly stepped back and used her shoulder to finish the job.
“Do you want to be next?” she asked.
He put up his hands. “I’m the getaway pilot, remember?”
She aimed the blaster on him. “Then let’s get going.”
He keyed in the codes that opened the door but before he stepped inside, he turned to whisper to her, “I have some things to tell you, but it’ll have to wait until after we get someplace safe.”
She frowned. “Tell me now,” she whispered back.
He shook his head. “Alharad probably hid listening devices in my transporter to learn information about my brother. Don’t worry, you’ll all be safe in a little while.”
She pressed the blaster into his stomach. “I want off this planet now.”
Can’t keep her waiting.
He entered the transporter and eased into the captain’s chair. Ally and the children scrambled in behind him. As he punched in the launch sequence, Ally helped the children into their seats and fastened their safety harnesses. After that, she settled into the copilot’s seat and secured hers.
When he finished the launch sequence, he opened a channel. “May I help you?” the voice on the other end asked.
Immediately he felt the cold nozzle of the blaster pressed so hard to his temple that his neck craned to the side uncomfortably. If she wasn’t Eva’s friend, he would have broken her wrist and snapped her neck.
“Please connect me to Thesan Altriz.”
“Hold, please.”
“We talked about this already, remember?” he reminded her with a growl.
She eased up slightly so that he could at least straighten his neck.
“Thesan here,” he said, coming on the line.
“It’s me.”
“Where are you? I’m in the room and some of your things are missing.”
“Don’t worry about me. I needed to leave sooner than expected. Can you manage…um…anything that comes up before you leave?”
“What are you talking about?” Thesan asked, confused. “And what do you mean you had to leave? What about—”
“Things took an unexpected turn. I’m taking care of that now.” The nozzle pressed harder into his skin. “Just handle anything that happens to come up on your end. Tell my brother that he won’t have to make that trip.”
There was silence. He knew Thesan was figuring out the situation. It wouldn’t take long and it wasn’t hard to do. He’d already told Thesan of his plan to keep Ally in the room with them. Once it was discovered that she was gone as well, Thesan would put it all together.
“Only if you’re sure about this.”
“I’m sure.”
“Consider it done.”
Kiehle disconnected the communication. “Can you remove that blaster from my head now?”
She pressed harder before finally pulling back. “Let’s go.”
He should’ve been mad, and possibly thinking about how many ways he could kill her. But he couldn’t bring himself to hold his anger for long. Admiration replaced any ill feelings that popped up. She’d been stuck in a brothel and had finally figured out a way to escape. And instead of leaving by herself, she’d decided to save two children.
Not all females hated working in the brothels, but he could only imagine how hard it must have been for Ally. He doubted any of her owners had been able to make her submit and that probably caused her a lot of punishment. He’d get her as far away from here as possible. Thesan could handle damage control.
No one talked as he steered the transporter out the bay doors and through the sky.
“Head t
o the nicest planet you know and drop us off,” she said in a strained voice.
“I know of a place,” he said, not wanting to say the planet’s name. He wasn’t even sure if she would recognize the name if he told her, but he knew Alharad would. “It’s a small planet and the locals keep to themselves.”
She nodded. ”Take us there. You’ll stay with us just long enough to transfer credits into my name and then you can be on your way.”
He feigned surprise. “Now you’re planning to steal from me? I think I might have to alert the Galactic Council.”
“If they knew you, they’d applaud me for not killing you too.”
Damn skippy she was taking his credits. She’d take as much as she could.
She relaxed into her seat. One hand grasped the harness secured across her chest and the other held tight to the blaster. Her finger pressed lightly against the trigger. Her heart thumped loudly as they cleared the planet’s atmosphere.
This was it.
Yinnis was behind her. Alharad was behind her. Being a slave and whore was behind her.
Then something she couldn’t explain happened. It felt as though the shell around her soul burst free. By the time the transporter broke through to the abyss of space, her sobs came out in uncontrolled waves.
They had done it. They were finally free.
She really didn’t want to cry. She wanted to laugh, scream and shout. But a true celebration would have to wait until she was alone.
She sniffled and wiped her face on her sleeve and opened her eyes again. The darkness of space was more than a welcome sight. It made her feel blessedly alone. She hadn’t been alone for the past six years. The constant talking and touching had fried her senses.
Now, looking out the transporter window, she saw nothing and her heart sang. If only they could stay out here for a while… The idea of being stuck back on a planet, pressed against numerous bodies, suddenly made her sad.
She cleared her throat. “How much longer until we reach the planet?” she asked.
“It’s not that far. You and the children have enough time to take a nap if you wish.”
She cut her gaze to Kiehle. “And if I was stupid, I would take you up on your offer.” I’m not an idiot. “Fall asleep and let you contact Alharad and that Thesan person again. As if.”
He raised a shoulder. “Suit yourself.”
She kept her eye on him, watching for any subtle hints of betrayal, but found none.
If they were under different circumstances, she would take the time to appreciate his looks. His hair wasn’t as perfect as it was when she’d first met him. Small tendrils had escaped the tie. The muscles in his arms were nicely formed. He had a strong hand holding the thruster while the other rested on his muscular thigh. He had touched her in much the same way. How could a hand so large be so…so gentle?
“You know, there’s a sleeping compartment in the back…”
Her eyes snapped up to meet his. She’d been openly checking him out. A knowing smile was on his lips.
“What?”
He jerked his head toward the back of the transporter. “The door is behind the backseats. The children are already asleep. I can set it on autopilot and we can finish what we started.” He ran a hand slowly down her thigh. Her skin erupted in goose bumps.
She growled and pulled away. “Touch me again and I’ll gladly send you to alien heaven.”
He laughed. “Well, you’re the one undressing me with your eyes.” He turned back to the console. “I thought I would make things a little easier for you.” Then he glanced back her way. “You know…not play hard to get.”
Heat rose up her neck to her face. “Shut up and drive.”
The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “I’m very easy. It’s disgusting really.”
“I said shut up. I brought you along for one reason and one reason only.”
He started to unbuckle his safety harness.
“Not that, you idiot.”
He pretended his feelings were hurt by putting his hand over his chest and pouting. “And I thought we were bonding.”
She blew out a breath. No, they weren’t bonding. Maybe if they’d met under different circumstances, things might have turned out differently. Right now he was just a means to an end—getting her to safety and filling her account with credits.
With credits, she and the children would be able to find somewhere else to live, somewhere safe. Maybe they could even go to a school. Once upon a time, she’d had hopes of escaping and returning to Earth, but she’d given up on those dreams awhile ago. She’d learned from some people who’d been taken from Earth well after she had that the planet was nothing like she remembered. Civilization was nothing more than slavery and work camps. The Loconuist had taken over everything.
No, their only hope now was to find a small, clean, Earth-like planet to live on. Maybe one day she would be able to find her family. Or even Eva.
She shut down that thought just as quickly as it came. There was no finding her family. No finding Eva.
Chapter Thirteen
The grass against her back felt good. She hadn’t felt it in so long. Her head rested on Jim’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. The sun was warm against her skin. The day was perfect, no clouds just blue skies. They hadn’t said a word since she’d spotted him on the country hillside and lay next to him. How long had she been here…had they been here?
She sighed softly. It didn’t matter. If she could, she would stay here with him forever, holding his hand and listening to his heart.
She never imagined that she would miss the sound of his heartbeat as much as she did. Its soft, rhythmic thump seemed to keep all her problems at bay.
“I miss you so much,” she whispered.
He squeezed her hand. It felt so right, so real in hers. Warm and strong, comforting. Alive.
“I miss you too.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m so afraid that one day I’ll forget what you look like or how your voice sounds. If I lose my memory, I’ll have nothing else to remember you by.”
“Don’t ever feel that way.” He put a hand over her heart. “I’ll always be in here.
He’s so sweet. He’s always so sweet. “But I want you with me. I want to hold and kiss you. I want the real thing. Not a memory.”
“It can never be real again.”
“Yes it can. This is real. I could stay here with you.”
“You don’t belong here. I don’t belong here. One day you’ll realize that and we won’t meet up again.”
“Never.”
“Honey, that will be a great day. You’ll have moved on.”
Her hand tightened around his. She didn’t want to ever let him go. “Why would you say something like that? I could never forget you.”
“I didn’t say forget me. Just…let go.”
She took a deep breath. He smelled like she remembered, Drakkar Noir and aftershave. “No.”
“You will,” he promised.
His fingers brushed the side of her cheek. “Ally, Ally, Ally.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
She put her fingers over his.
So small.
Not Jim.
Her eyes fluttered open.
Her heart sank.
Of course it wasn’t Jim. Jim was dead.
Her dreams of him were always so real. Disappointment crushed down on her.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Max said in a small voice. “Were you dreaming of Jim again?” He and Yoshi were the only ones with whom she’d shared her dreams of Jim. He also knew how sad she always was when she woke from them.
“Yes.” She smiled up at him, brought his delicate hand to her mouth and placed a gentle kiss on the palm.
“We’re here,” he said softly.
Here?
Where am I?
She bolted up, looking around frantically. “Wha—?” Her eyes landed on the console—buttons and switches. Next, the seat and empty harness beside her, and last, the larg
e window that showed…
A blue sky and grass on the other side.
Transporter.
Escape.
Kiehle.
Shit, she had fallen asleep. Is that fresh air I smell? She sniffed again.
She heard voices, too faint for her to make out what was being said.
“Yoshi?” Ally jumped to her feet on the next breath.
Max wrapped his bony arms around her leg. “It’s okay, Kiehle’s with her outside.”
“Alone?” she bit out.
She grabbed Max by the hand and scurried out the open door and down the ramp. No sign of Yoshi or Kiehle.
“Oh!” Yoshi yelled.
Dragging Max behind her, she ran toward the sounds. “Yoshi! Yoshi!” If her heart thumped against her rib cage any harder, she was sure it would explode. She’d dropped her guard. There was no room for error where the kids were concerned.
If he harmed her, I’ll kill him…
She rounded the transporter at a run.
Both Kiehle and Yoshi were sitting cross-legged on the ground with various colored flowers in a pile between them.
Ally stopped abruptly. Max bumped into her legs, making her stumble forward ungracefully.
Kiehle looked up, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil that raged within her. “Look, Ally has decided to wake up.”
Ally looked from Kiehle to Yoshi, trying to catch any sign or hint of anything wrong. But Yoshi seemed fine. The sunlight cast a healthy glow on her hair and skin. Kiehle looked relaxed. The light did something else to him too; made him look vibrant. Nothing seemed amiss.
“What…what are you doing?”
“I’m teaching her how to make a beautiful flower necklace fit for a princess,” he said nonchalantly.
Yoshi giggled and held up the flowers she had in her hand. They were entwined with each other, hanging in a line. “See? Aren’t they pretty?”
“Fl-flowers?” Ally stammered. When was the last time she’d seen a flower?
“Only the best,” Kiehle stated.
Her gaze wandered from Kiehle to Yoshi. “Yoshi, are you okay?”
She beamed, showing just about every tooth she had in her mouth. “Yes! I’m making a necklace, Ally! I never made a necklace before.” She picked up a flower and then, with Kiehle’s help, twined the stem to the row of blooms she already had.
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